First reading of the Draft Act on the Amendment of the Foreign Service Act and the Amendment of Other Acts in Connection Therewith (353 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-03-06 17:42
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 7
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 17m
AI Summaries: 7/7 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The first reading of Draft Bill 353, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the amendment of the Foreign Service Act and related amendments to other acts, took place in the Riigikogu. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna introduced the bill, emphasizing that it resolves the constitutional issue of the previous act, which the President of the Republic declined to promulgate in 2020. This is achieved by ensuring equal treatment regarding social guarantees for spouses and registered partners, a principle that took effect with the amendments to the Family Law Act on January 1, 2024.
The main objective of the bill is to harmonize the foreign service with the general public service and to make the regulation more flexible and clearer. Significant amendments include the introduction of the salary system stipulated by the Public Service Act (PSA), which abolishes separate additional payments for seniority, academic degree, and diplomatic rank. These factors will be integrated into the criteria for the basic salary, while simultaneously ensuring that salaries do not decrease. The procedure for paying the allowance to a spouse or registered partner is also being changed, allowing it to be paid even to a working partner (depending on the size of their income) to encourage family cohesion and support the partner's employment. As an innovation, the bill creates the possibility for an official on a long-term assignment without a spouse to bring a support person to care for a child under the age of 13 or a child with special needs. Furthermore, the person authorized to make appointments is granted the right to prohibit family members from accompanying the diplomat to insecure host countries, while maintaining social guarantees should the situation change during the assignment.
Decisions Made 2
On the proposal of the lead committee (the Foreign Affairs Committee), it was decided to conclude the first reading of Bill 353.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set as March 20, 2024, at 5:15 PM.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu now moves to the next item on the agenda, Item No. 7, under which we will consider the first reading of Bill 353, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the amendment of the Foreign Service Act and associated legislation. The rapporteur will be Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna submitted a draft amendment bill to the Foreign Service Act, which aims to increase uniformity with the public service, streamline the salary system and additional allowances, expand compensation payments to an accompanying spouse or registered partner, establish the role of an accompanying support person, increase flexibility (including rotations and workload), reduce bureaucracy, ensure social guarantees and cost coverage for family members, account for restrictions in insecure locations, and whose financial impact is not significant. The entry into force depends on the proceedings of the Riigikogu.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Minister, states that he has no questions, and requests that Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, present the lead committee’s positions and decisions from the Riigikogu podium.
Marko Mihkelson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu considered a highly important draft amendment to the Foreign Service Act, which is the result of lengthy preparation and aims to strengthen the foreign service. The Committee made consensus decisions to conclude the first reading and send the draft bill to the plenary session on March 6, 2024, and subsequently began discussing issues related to the authorization norm concerning the limitation of remuneration for accompanying spouses or partners and the covering of associated costs.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the rapporteur, announced that there were no questions, and opened the debate on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction, acting as the representative for Liisa-Ly Pakosta.
Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Liisa-Ly Pakosta emphasized two core values: firstly, the final entry into force of the Foreign Service Act, which ensures support for family and close ones and work in Estonian representations, and secondly, the importance of fulfilling the requirements of the state's Gender Equality Act in state institutions, including compensation for a support person and covering the cost of childcare services, so that the reconciliation of work and family life is effective and contributes to population growth.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi concluded the negotiations and announced that the responsible committee intends to close the first reading of Draft Bill 353, and the deadline for submitting amendments is March 20th at 5:15 PM.